EA Says Next Battlefield Is 'Expected' Fiscal Year 2026

EA's Next Battlefield Game: A Return to Form

Electronic Arts (EA) announced today that the next installment in the Battlefield franchise is slated for release within its fiscal year 2026, spanning April 2025 to March 2026. This follows the release of a pre-alpha gameplay glimpse and the unveiling of "Battlefield Labs," a new player testing initiative designed to gather feedback during development.

This ambitious project leverages the combined expertise of four studios under the "Battlefield Studios" banner: DICE (Stockholm), Motive, Ripple Effect, and Criterion. Each studio is tackling specific aspects of the game:

• DICE (Sweden): Multiplayer development.
• Motive: Single-player missions and multiplayer maps.
• Ripple Effect: Onboarding new players to the franchise.
• Criterion: Single-player campaign.

EA emphasizes that this collaborative effort is entering a crucial development phase, prioritizing player feedback to refine core gameplay elements. Battlefield Labs will facilitate extensive testing, focusing on combat, destruction, weapons, vehicles, gadgets, maps, modes, and squad play, including core game modes like Conquest and Breakthrough. The testing will also explore refinements to the class system and new gameplay ideas.

This new Battlefield marks a strategic shift for the franchise. It will return to a modern setting, drawing inspiration from the highly-regarded Battlefield 3 and 4 eras, abandoning the Specialists system and the controversial 128-player maps of Battlefield 2042. The upcoming game will instead feature 64 players per map. Concept art suggests the inclusion of ship-to-ship and helicopter combat, along with environmental hazards like wildfires.

The project represents a significant investment for EA, reflecting a commitment to revitalize the franchise after the mixed reception of Battlefield 2042. The goal is to recapture the trust of core Battlefield players while expanding the game's appeal to a broader audience. EA aims to offer diverse experiences within the Battlefield universe, ensuring players don't need to look elsewhere for varied gameplay.

While EA hasn't revealed the game's title or launch platforms, the substantial resources dedicated to its development suggest a significant effort to deliver a compelling and successful entry in the Battlefield series. The pressure is on, but EA's commitment is clear: they're "all in on Battlefield."